Gas Cap Stuck On - Help! - Bill Conquest 11/07/06

[Justin B.]

Bill Conquest Posted: Tue Nov 07, 2006 1:08 am    Post subject: Gas Cap Stuck On - Help!

This is strange - tried to take off my gas cap & it won't come off. It's a '79 r65 with a screw on cap.When I try to unscrew it it makes that clicking "break-away" sound as if it was being overtightened but won't unscrew.I tried pulling up, pushing down, everything & it's not locked.Anybody got any ideas?Hurry, i'm running out of gas! Thanks, Bill Conquest


RobValdez1979R65 Posted: Tue Nov 07, 2006 2:18 am    Post subject:

Bill,

Get a peice of rope long enough to loop around your neck and one shoulder and the handle of the cas cap while you are sitting atop your bike.
Thread the rope through the handle, and tie it at the ends.
Climb on the bike.
Put the loop over your head/shoulder.

While pulling upward with your torso, unscrew the cap with one hand.

Be careful not to screw it down "too tight" in the future.


Bill Conquest Posted: Tue Nov 07, 2006 2:32 am    Post subject:

Thanks Rob, i'll try that first thing in the a.m. Don't remember tightening it that much but I must have...hope it works! Thanks, Bill Conquest


Emiller Posted: Tue Nov 07, 2006 12:21 pm    Post subject:
And get pictures! Laughing


Bill Conquest Posted: Tue Nov 07, 2006 9:40 pm    Post subject:

Well I just tried that idea & it isn't working.Pulled very hard & it still turns with that click ratcheting sound but won't come off.Will try again but really hope it works, what's next? Thanks, Bill Conquest


donbmw Posted: Tue Nov 07, 2006 11:09 pm    Post subject:

I had this happen to me while I was on a trip. I keep turn and pulling until the black top part of the cap came off. This left the part that screws into the tank still with the tank. The I was able to use a large channel lock plyers to unscrew this. After everything was apart I was able to pop the to parts back together. Since then I only lightly snug the cap and never lockit with the key. This has been like this since 1985.


RobValdez1979R65 Posted: Tue Nov 07, 2006 11:14 pm    Post subject:

Sorry to hear that didn't work, Bill

There is another method that involves drilling holes and screwing in screws to lock the ratchet mechanism in place.

You may find instructions on Snowbums' site, or the Airheads' site.


Bill Conquest Posted: Wed Nov 08, 2006 2:16 am    Post subject:

Thanks for the ideas you guys, i'll using upward pressure again & also check out the airhead site for the drill & screw method. thanks, Bill Conquest


Bill Conquest Posted: Wed Nov 08, 2006 2:45 am    Post subject:

Hey Rob, how do I find Snowbums site? thanks Bill Conquest


RobValdez1979R65 Posted: Wed Nov 08, 2006 4:50 am    Post subject:

http://home.jps.net/~snowbum/techindex.htm


Bill Conquest Posted: Wed Nov 08, 2006 8:26 pm    Post subject:

Hey Rob, Thanks alot - I got it off & fixed it! Snowbum's instructions were dead on & I learned a lesson.You can be fooled by the ratcheting cap, it's not like one on a car. This would be a bummer on a trip to deal with! Thanks, Bill Conquest

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

I had not seen your reply until I re-read the thread over here!

I am real happy to hear that procedure worked for you.  [smiley=thumbsup.gif]
I have never really been able to picture it for myself.  The rope trick worked for me, and I haven't locked it  up since.  :-/

Did it disfigure it much.  Pictures?

[Bill Conquest]

No -it was no problem, I pulled off the black plastic skirting easily & found a hole in the chanel (couldn't see it but felt it with a piece of stiff wire) then rotated the cap 'till it lined up w/ a coresponding hole, then push the wire thru into the other hole in the inner part & bingo - it opened. I then screwed the 2 parts together permanantly, from the inside. Thanks for steering me in that direction, I would never have figured that out!Snowbum explains it all very well. Aloha, Bill Conquest